Corey

CORE Foods

Oakland, CA

After a lifetime of experimenting with diet, I jumped at the opportunity to live with twelve tribes around the world and experience how our ancestors naturally lived. While subsisting with these tribes, I hand-ground corn in Mexico, foraged for sago grubs in Papua New Guinea, rice farmed in Indonesia, herded goats in Mongolia, beat taro in Brazil, ate dog in India, grilled breadfruit in Vanuatu, and sling-shot-hunted dik-dik in South Africa. Throughout my journey, I discovered that one simple principle was at the heart of enduring human nutrition: eat mainly whole fresh fruits and vegetables.

After this journey, I joined Whole Foods Market to learn how to make this principle thrive. Witnessing a great need for truly healthy on-the-go foods, I founded CORE Foods to make it possible for anyone to eat healthy anywhere, anytime. CORE Foods was founded as a not-for-profit business following the universal principle I observed in every tribe I lived with: treat others the way you want to be treated. With a loan from Whole Foods Market, I launched the CORE Meal on Earth Day 2010.

Business Description

We’re an Oakland-based not-for-profit company on a mission to cultivate a healthier planet by empowering people with nourishing food and honest resources.

We make the most nourishing food. We believe that compromising the quality of our food compromises the quality of your life. That’s why we make food you can trust to be at the foundation of your health. We keep the junk out and use whole-food ingredients, sourced as locally as possible, and grown using the most advanced organic methods to maximize the nutritional benefits you get from our food.

We lead through empowerment. We provide food, services, and resources that give you the power to live your most fulfilling life. Our deep evolutionary perspective on nutrition allows us to dispel myths and separate fact from fiction, so that you have access to all the tools you need to be healthy. We recognize that we may not have all the answers but we’re committed to learning and growing together.

We’re invested in a healthier planet. We’ve pioneered a new and not-for-profit business model that separates food from profit so that your health always comes first. We reinvest 100% of profits back into our food, our community, and our movement. We measure, reduce, and offset our ecological impact to build a sustainable ecosystem. We share as much as we can about the inner workings of our company to further our commitment to social responsibility.

What is the purpose of this loan?

Launching a new flavor would help us to be carried in the remaining 3 regions of Whole Foods. To launch those regions we must provide 1 free case per SKU to each store.
In a new flavor launch in our 2 varieties of CORE Meals that is $34.20 (per case in distributor charge back) x 2 SKUs x 70 stores, or approximately $5000.

Corey's loan is endorsed by Pacific Community Ventures.
The information below explains why his trustee thinks Corey is a great candidate for a Kiva Zip loan.

How long have you known this person?

1 year - 3 years

Tell us about your relationship with this borrower.

Corey has been an exemplary member of PCV's Business Advising program since 2011. We've watched him continue to grow his business successfully and take his delicious products to new distribution channels since 2011. Corey is in regular contact with PCV and has received advising from two of our volunteer advisors and he has attended 5 PCV events. We love having Corey in our network--he lives his mission and is doing it quite successfully.

Tell us about this borrower's personality and character, and why you are endorsing him or her for a Kiva Zip loan.

Corey's energy is contagious and he has a real ability to inspire and motivate people. His vision and values are infused in his company and their products. He is responsible, responsive and good to his word. He is also a true entrepreneur and a great problem solver, all of which mitigate the lenders risk!

Tell us about this borrower's business, and why you believe a Kiva Zip loan will contribute to his or her success.

CORE Foods is an Oakland-based not-for-profit company empowering people with nourishing food and honest resources. A Kiva loan will help the company deliver on their mission and further improve the lives of their customers and their community.

Corey's energy is contagious and he has a real ability to inspire and motivate people. His vision and values are infused in his company and their products. He is responsible, responsive and good to his word. He is also a true entrepreneur and a great problem solver, all of which mitigate the lend...

What are Trustee Badges?

Trustee Badges are a system designed to recognize and reward trustees’ engagement with the Kiva Zip website.

There are two types of badges that are tiered like medals: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

'Repayment badges' are awarded for the on-time repayment of loans.

'Connectedness badges' are awarded for engagement with the Kiva Zip website.